CHAPTER TWENTY EIGHT: BONDS THROUGH STRIFE

The afternoon sun filtered through the canopy of trees, casting a gentle mosaic of light and shadow across the school grounds. Selena and Ken sat side by side on a wooden bench nestled beneath the swaying branches, a quiet serenity enveloping them. The distant hum of students mingling in the background provided a comforting soundtrack to their shared silence.

Ken took a deep breath, filling his lungs with the crisp, fresh air. His muscles still ached, and a dull throb lingered in his chest, but the walk had helped clear his head. He glanced sideways at Selena, her gaze fixed on a pair of birds fluttering nearby.

"Feels strange to be out here," Ken admitted, his voice carrying a vulnerability that was foreign even to him. "After everything that happened."

Selena turned to him, a small, reassuring smile playing at her lips. "You're tougher than you look, Ken."

He chuckled, rubbing the back of his neck. "Coming from you, I'll take that as a compliment."

Selena's smile widened, a genuine warmth in her eyes. "It is. Trust me."

The wind rustled the leaves above them, a soft, whispering chorus that filled the silence. Ken flexed his fingers, the sensation of Selena's Shadow still a vivid memory. "What you did...transferring your Shadow to me—it saved my life. I owe you for that."

Her expression sobered, shadows flickering in her eyes. "You don't owe me anything. I couldn't just let you die." She hesitated, her fingers entwining nervously. "I was so scared... that I'd lose you."

The admission hung heavily between them, weighed down by the unspoken emotions that had been building since their harrowing battle. Ken looked down, his jaw tightening. "I wasn't ready to leave you behind either."

Selena's breath caught, a faint blush coloring her cheeks. "I'm just glad you're okay. I thought... I thought I'd made things worse."

Ken's hand reached out instinctively, his fingers brushing against hers in a gentle, reassuring touch. "You didn't. You gave me strength when I had none left. If anything, you kept me alive."

Selena's eyes met his, the intensity of her gaze stealing the breath from his lungs. For a brief moment, the world around them faded, leaving just the two of them in that small pocket of time.

"You're not alone in this," she murmured softly. "We'll get through it together."

Ken swallowed hard, his voice rough with emotion. "Together."

The sun dipped lower, casting a warm golden hue across the landscape. Neither of them moved to break the connection, content to share in the quiet comfort of each other's presence. In that simple, unguarded moment, the bond between them solidified, a silent promise of loyalty and strength.

He pulls his face close to her, tries to give her a warm kiss but she hesitated, her fingers curling into the fabric of her skirt. She took a slow, shaky breath, her eyes darting away from Ken's searching gaze.

"Ken…" she started, her voice barely above a whisper. "I… I gave you my Shadow."

Ken frowned, his brows knitting together. "I know that," he said, studying her face. "You told me back at the hospital."

Selena shook her head. "No, I mean… I gave it to you. As in, it's yours now."

A beat of silence passed between them. The weight of her words sank in like a heavy stone in Ken's chest. His breath hitched.

"What?" His voice was barely audible.

Selena's expression remained calm, but her fingers tightened into fists on her lap. "When I transferred it to you, I didn't just lend it. I—" She exhaled, her lips pressing into a thin line before continuing. "I don't have a Shadow anymore."

Ken's entire body tensed. He stared at her, trying to process what she had just said. "That's not—That's not possible, right? It was supposed to be temporary."

Selena looked away. "It was supposed to be… but it wasn't."

Ken shook his head. "Selena, that's—" He reached for her hand, gripping it firmly. "You need your Shadow. You're a Tenebri. How the hell do you expect to—"

"I don't know!" she snapped, her voice laced with frustration. She pulled her hand away and buried her face in them. "I don't know how it happened, Ken! I just—" She sighed, rubbing her temples. "I just know that it's gone."

Ken's jaw tightened. His mind raced, his thoughts spiraling into a thousand different directions. He had her Shadow inside him? Permanently?

"So that's why…" He trailed off, recalling how pale she looked, how weak she seemed. It wasn't just from exhaustion—it was because she no longer had the very thing that made her who she was.

"Why didn't you tell me sooner?" he asked, his voice softer this time.

Selena swallowed hard. "Because I didn't want you to feel guilty. You almost died, Ken. I'd do it all over again if it meant keeping you alive."

Ken clenched his fists. "That's not fair, Selena. You shouldn't have had to make that choice."

Selena finally looked at him, her eyes filled with quiet determination. "But I did. And I don't regret it."

Ken's chest tightened. His breath felt heavier. He wanted to argue, to tell her she was reckless, to demand they find a way to fix this—but deep down, he knew Selena. Once she made a decision, there was no changing it.

He exhaled sharply, his grip on her hand tightening again. "Then we'll figure it out," he said firmly. "We'll find a way to get your Shadow back."

Selena smiled weakly. "There's a way. I will need to go back to the Shadow Realm to absorb a shadow."

Ken's expression hardened. "Selena, I'm not staying behind while you go off to the Shadow Realm alone."

She sighed, already anticipating his stubbornness. "Ken, listen—"

"No, you listen." His voice was firm, unwavering. "You gave me your Shadow to save my life. Now you expect me to sit back and do nothing while you risk yours? That's not happening."

Selena reached out, placing a gentle hand over his. "I know you want to protect me. But Ken, you're still recovering. You barely made it through that last fight."

Ken clenched his fists, frustration evident in his eyes. "I'm fine."

She gave him a knowing look. "You're not. You're pretending to be. I see it—the way you move, how you wince when you think no one's looking. You need time to heal, and I need to do this alone."

Ken gritted his teeth, looking away. "And what if something happens to you?"

She exhaled, squeezing his hand. "I won't let anything happen to me. My mom and Sophia are making arrangements. I won't be alone."

"That's not enough," he muttered.

Selena tilted her head, her eyes softening. "Then promise me."

Ken looked at her, his resolve faltering. "Promise you what?"

"That you'll stay here," she said gently. "That you'll rest, get stronger, and wait for me."

Ken swallowed hard, his jaw tightening. He hated this—hated feeling useless, hated the thought of her going without him. But as much as he wanted to fight it, he saw the determination in her eyes.

After a long silence, he exhaled sharply. "…Fine."

Selena's lips curled into a small, relieved smile. "Say it."

Ken sighed in defeat. "Fine… I promise."

Selena's smile widened, and before he could react, she cupped his face and pulled him into a kiss. It was warm, slow, and filled with unspoken emotions. Ken melted into it, letting himself get lost in her touch. His hands slid up her arms, drawing her closer as if afraid she'd disappear.

Just as the moment deepened—

A dry, mocking voice cut through the air.

"Well, isn't this just adorable?"

Ken and Selena jolted apart, turning to find me standing a few feet away, arms crossed, an unimpressed scowl on my face. My piercing red eyes flicked between them before locking onto Selena with a smirk.

"I thought you said you were weak and dying," I said, tilting my head. "Yet here you are, making out like you've got all the time in the world."

Selena groaned, her face heating up. "Liam—"

I held up a hand. "No, no, don't mind me. Please, continue. I'd hate to get in the way of true love." My voice dripped with sarcasm as I leaned against the tree beside me, mockingly clutching my chest. "It's just so touching."

I narrowed my eyes, studying Ken's face. Something about him-it felt familiar. A nagging unease crawled up my spine, like a puzzle piece shifting into place.

Then it hit me.

The flash of a gun. The cold, detached look of a hitman completing a job.

My mind snapped back to that moment-Madam Abigail gasping for breath, blood pooling beneath her, the light in her eyes fading just before she could speak my father's whereabouts...

My breath caught. My entire body went rigid as the realization slammed into me like a freight train. My fingers twitched at my sides before curling into a tight fist.

Without another thought, I moved.

My fist crashed against Ken's jaw with enough force to send him staggering back.

Selena gasped. "Liam! What the hell?!"

Ken barely had time to steady himself before I took a menacing step forward, my eyes ablaze with fury. The usual cocky smirk, the sarcasm-gone. My entire being radiated nothing but rage.

Ken wiped the blood from his lip, staring at Lme with a mixture of shock and irritation. "What the hell is your problem?"

My voice was low, seething. "You."

Selena quickly stepped between us, pressing a hand against my chest to hold me back. "Liam, stop! What's going on?"

I ignored her, my murderous gaze locked onto Ken. "You killed Madam Abigail."

"Who the hell is that?" She ask

"My only lead to finding Steve"

The air around them seemed to freeze.

Selena's breath hitched as she turned to Ken, her expression torn between disbelief and dread. "Is that true?"

Ken exhaled slowly, his gaze unreadable. "Yes."

I lunged, but Selena shoved against my chest, struggling to hold me back. "Liam, stop!"

"She was my only lead!" I roared, my voice shaking with fury. "She was about to tell me where my father was! And then he-" I pointed an accusing finger at Ken. "-put a bullet in her head."

Ken didn't flinch. His voice remained calm. "It was a job."

I let out a cold, bitter laugh. "A job?" My fists trembled. "You ruined everything-for a damn paycheck?"

Ken held his gaze. "I don't expect you to understand."

"I don't care what you expect." I snapped. "All I know is that I will cut of your damn head off."

Selena tightened her grip on me, desperation in her voice. "Liam, please. Killing him won't change anything"

"It would bring a bit of comfort to me" My voice echoed

She tightened her grip on my arm, her voice firm but pleading. "Liam, listen to me-Ken killed Shane."

I scoffed, my jaw still clenched with anger. "I don't know who the hell that is, and I don't care."

Selena's eyes darkened with frustration. "Shane -the assassin who killed your mother. The one who murdered Aunt Shayla."

My breath hitched.

For a split second, my rage faltered. The weight of her words pressed down on me, thick and suffocating. My grip loosened ever so slightly.

Shayla. My mother. The woman I barely had memories of but whose absence had shaped my very existence. The reason behind my endless grief. The reason behind my emptiness.

And he had killed her murderer.

My fists trembled, my body locked in place, torn between fury and the ghost of a grief I thought I keep in check.

My glare shifted to Selena, my voice laced with venom. "Oh, I see what this is. You're just trying to protect your boyfriend."

Selena's expression remained steady, unwavering. "Have I ever lied to you?"

I didn't answer right away. I held her gaze, searching for any trace of deception—but there was none. Selena had never been one to sugarcoat things, never been one to feed me lies just to soothe my anger.

After a long pause, I exhaled sharply and turned back to Ken, my eyes still burning with hostility. "I'm not gonna apologize for hitting you," I muttered. "But I guess we're even now."

Ken rubbed his jaw, watching me carefully. He could still feel the sting of the punch, but instead of anger, his lips curled into a smirk. "Yeah… sure."

I turned back to Selena, my expression twisted with disbelief. "I can't believe you gave this weakling your Shadow."

Selena opened her mouth to respond, but Ken beat her to it. He stepped forward, his jaw tight as he wiped the blood from his lip. "Give me a few days to recover," he said coldly, his eyes locking onto mine. "Then we'll see who the weakling is."

A tense silence settled between us as we glared fiercely at each other, neither backing down. The air crackled with unspoken challenges, the weight of our animosity pressing down like a storm about to break.

Selena groaned, stepping between us with a sharp glare. "Enough. Both of you." She turned to me. "You got your hit in, so let it go." Then she faced Ken, her voice firm. "And you don't need to prove anything to him."

Neither man moved at first, but eventually, I scoffed and looked away, while Ken exhaled sharply, rolling his shoulders. The tension still lingered, but for now, the fight had been cut short.

For the first time in my life, I did something that genuinely stunned Selena.

I exhaled sharply, shoving my hands into my pockets before glancing at Ken. My intense glare softened—just a little. "Liam Remmick," I said, my tone even. "Since you're apparently sticking around, I figured you should at least know the name of the guy who almost broke your face."

Ken, still wary, studied me for a moment before nodding. "Ken Heinzeln."

I smirked slightly, then tilted my head. "Recover fast. I'd hate to hear excuses when I put you in the dirt next time." Without waiting for a response, I turned on my heel and walked away, leaving Selena staring after me, completely dumbfounded.

Ken watched me walk away, his jaw still tight from the earlier punch. He rolled his shoulders, glancing at Selena, who looked just as surprised as he felt.

"Well," Ken muttered, rubbing his sore cheek. "That was… unexpected."

Selena huffed, crossing her arms. "You're telling me." She shook her head, sighing. "Just… try not to provoke him."

Ken smirked, stretching his neck. "Can't make any promises."

Selena groaned, already regretting letting us meet.

---

Meanwhile, in her office, Helen sat across from Lady Sophia, her fingers interlocked as she studied the woman before her.

"You came sooner than expected," Helen remarked, her sharp gaze unwavering, she leaned back in her chair, watching Sophia with measured patience. The older woman's lips were pressed into a thin line, her fingers tapping lightly against the armrest.

"I came to take Selena back to the Shadow Realm," Sophia finally said, her tone firm. "She's already lost too much time here."

Helen nodded, as if she had expected this. "I figured as much."

"But that's not my only concern." Sophia's eyes darkened. "That boy—Ken. He's dangerous, Helen. He may have helped Selena, but he's a hitman. Someone like him could easily become a threat to the Shadow Realm."

Helen folded her arms, her expression unreadable. "Ken is not a threat."

Sophia raised a brow, clearly taken aback. "You're vouching for him?"

"Yes," Helen said simply. "I've been watching him. He has no interest in harming the Shadow Realm. His only concern is Selena."

Sophia scoffed, but there was uncertainty in her gaze. "You trust him that much?"

Helen's lips quirked slightly. "Let's just say I know a lost soul when I see one. And Ken may be many things, but a threat to us? No. He has his own demons to fight."

Sophia studied her for a moment before sighing. "I hope you're right." She exhaled, pinching the bridge of her nose before shifting the conversation. "And what about Liam?"

Helen's expression softened just a little. "What about him?"

Sophia frowned. "You know exactly what I mean. That boy has always been unpredictable, but after Sage Henri's death, he's become… something else. I worry about what he might do."

Helen leaned forward, resting her elbows on the desk. "Liam is angry. He has every right to be. But he's not reckless—at least, not in the way you think. He's searching for answers in his own way."

Sophia shook her head. "He doesn't just need answers, Helen. He needs guidance. And if he refuses to return to the Shadow Realm, then he's even more lost than we feared."

Helen let out a quiet sigh. "I know Liam better than you do, Sophia. He's not lost—he's just choosing a different path."

Sophia pursed her lips, clearly unconvinced. "And if that path leads him down the wrong road?"

Helen's gaze darkened slightly. "Then I'll be the one to bring him back."

Sophia's lips curled into a small, knowing smile. "You remind me of Sage Henri," she said, tilting her head slightly.

Helen raised a brow. "Oh? How so?"

Sophia chuckled softly. "That same stubborn belief in people, even when others have given up on them. Henri was always like that—especially with Seth." She paused, then added, "And now, here you are, doing the same with Liam."

Helen smirked. "Someone has to believe in him."

Sophia nodded. "Let's just hope he doesn't make us regret it."

The next morning, the air was crisp with the lingering chill of dawn. Sophia stood in the courtyard, her hand raised as swirling shadows coiled around her fingers, forming the gateway to the Shadow Realm. The portal pulsed with dark energy, casting an eerie glow over the ground.

Nicole shifted uncomfortably, fidgeting with the hem of her skirt. "Take care, Selena," she said softly.

Selena smiled. "I will." She turned to Ken, who stood beside Nicole, arms crossed.

Ken exhaled, keeping his expression unreadable. "Don't get yourself killed."

Selena smirked. "Same to you."

Sophia gave them both a final glance before stepping into the portal. Selena followed, pausing just long enough to look back at Ken one last time before disappearing into the swirling darkness.

With a final surge of energy, the portal sealed shut, leaving only silence in its wake.

**********